The Delegated Act on data access for vetted researchers has been adopted — a major step forward for independent research on systemic risks in the digital environment!

Coimisiún na Meán@cnam-ie.bsky.social · last yr.

We welcome the @ec.europa.eu’s adoption of the Delegated Act on Data Access. This is a significant milestone in the implementation of the provisions of Article 40 in the Digital Services Act. 🔗 www.cnam.ie/european-com...

Thanks for the reminder @janemunday.bsky.social. Every summer, I repost this article DROWNING DOES NOT LOOK LIKE DROWNING. To date, I know of FOUR kids who were saved after someone who'd clicked on the link learnt how to spot actual drowning. Take time to read and pass on. slate.com/technology/2...

Drowning Doesn’t Look Like Drowning

Drowning is not the violent, splashing call for help that most people expect.

slate.com

Interested in improving researcher's access to social media data? Kate Dommett and myself are hiring for a Research Fellow (1 year; based at Sheffield) for an exciting new project to be announced soon: jobsite.sheffield.ac.uk/job/Research...

I asked ChatGPT to find out if a quote I heard from someone was a pop culture reference. It told me it was from True Detective. A quick search confirmed that to be false. Then it told me it 'misspoke'. When I asked for an explanation of why it gave me a fake answer first it said this:

We are delighted to share the publication of Risky Research: An AoIR Guide to Researcher Protection and Safety, the culmination of over two years of collaborative effort by the AoIR Risky Research Working Group. aoir.org/riskyresearc...

The European Commission is recruiting for 60 roles in their DSA enforcement team. ec.europa.eu/eusurvey/run...

In times of crisis, citizens look to the EU for decisive actions and solutions. According to a recent Eurobarometer survey, EU citizens wants the EU to focus on defence and security (36%) as well as competitiveness, economy and industry (32%). 🔗 Read more: europa.eu/!Hdtf79

It's really disappointing to see how the DSA=censorship narrative appears in reporting on the DSA with no factual information provided about what it is and how it functions. There seems to be a growing fundamental misunderstanding about it but I'm not hearing much of a countering explanation.

The Irish DSC’s survey on vetted researcher data access under Article 40 of the DSA is open for one more week! Help shape how the procedures are designed and resourced to meet researcher needs. Key findings will be shared publicly. Please share with your networks. www.cnam.ie/industry-and...

Vetted Researcher Data Access - Coimisiún na Meán

Article 40 of the Digital Services Act (DSA) makes provision for researchers to access data from Very Large Online Platforms (VLOPs) or Very Large Online Search Engines (VLOSEs) for the purposes of st...

cnam.ie

As European leaders face pressure from the second Trump administration that is hostile to tech regulation, Jakob Ohme, LK Seiling, and Claes H. de Vreese write that Europe must protect the Digital Services Act (DSA) to ensure a democratic future, both online and offline:

Will Europe Sacrifice the Digital Services Act in Negotiations with Trump? | TechPolicy.Press

Jakob Ohme, LK Seiling, and Claes H. de Vreese write that European leaders must protect the DSA to ensure a democratic future.

buff.ly

NEW: Hossam Shabat’s Last Article Filed hours before his killing in an Israeli airstrike, journalist Hossam Shabat describes the resumption of Israel's scorched earth campaign in his hometown of Beit Hanoun. Translated through tears by Sharif Kouddous dropsitenews.com/p/hossam-sha...

Hossam Shabat’s Last Article

Filed hours before his killing in an Israeli airstrike, journalist Hossam Shabat describes the resumption of Israel's scorched earth campaign in his hometown of Beit Hanoun.

dropsitenews.com

This is precisely the problem @kesearles.bsky.social and I have been studying for the last few years. It’s why we created researchersupport.org. When experts are afraid to speak publicly, we all lose.

Researcher Support Consortium

researchersupport.org

Amy Maxmen, PhD@amymaxmen.bsky.social · last yr.

In 15 yrs of reporting, I've never had so many health & biomed researchers & outreach orgs tell me they're afraid to talk w/press or barred from speaking bc of new comms policies. I understand the fear of losing funds. I don't know if silence does more harm than good. If you can speak up, pls do.

This story makes a really powerful (and tragically depressing) point: that there is no evidence strong enough to counter a world view anchored in conspiracy theory and reinforced by a multitide of motivated "influencers" — even the death of one's own child.

Jennifer Ouellette@jenlucpiquant.bsky.social · last yr.

Mom of child dead from measles: “Don’t do the shots,” my other 4 kids were fine arstechnica.com/health/2025/...

Roses are red Violets are blue

We know it… but seeing it is still mind blowing. Read this piece and search which of your works were used to train AI models. Without remuneration. Dozens of chapters, articles, books www.theatlantic.com/technology/a...

Search LibGen, the Pirated-Books Database That Meta Used to Train AI

Millions of books and scientific papers are captured in the collection’s current iteration.

theatlantic.com

We have less awareness about what happens on social media platforms in 2025 than we did five years ago, writes markscott.bsky.social.

The Next Step in Social Media Data Access: How to Turn Rules into Reality | TechPolicy.Press

We have less awareness about what happens on social media platforms in 2025 than we did five years ago, writes Mark Scott.

techpolicy.press

With usual sharpness and clarity @markscott.bsky.social writes here about the state of play in data access to social media platforms. Several points are urgent. Example: expansion of existing research networks so that data access best practices can be shared. www.techpolicy.press/the-next-ste...

The Next Step in Social Media Data Access: How to Turn Rules into Reality | TechPolicy.Press

We have less awareness about what happens on social media platforms in 2025 than we did five years ago, writes Mark Scott.

techpolicy.press

Excited to share "Initial Analysis on the First Round of Risk Assessments under the EU Digital Services Act", in collaboration w/ the DSA Civil Society Coordination Group (of which ISD is a proud member)! Read about key trends, practices, gaps & reccs for better future risk assessment reports below.

Civil Society Responds to DSA Risk Assessment Reports: An Initial Feedback Brief

The DSA Civil Society Coordination Group, in collaboration with the Recommender Systems Taskforce and People vs Big Tech, has released an initial analysis of the first Risk Assessment Reports submitte...

cdt.org

Academic research centers that study the spread of conspiracy theories and misinformation are still under attack, paulthedogman.bsky.social warns. He explains why and how their rights should be defended. www.justsecurity.org/109030/acade...

Academic Misinformation Researchers Are Still Under Attack

Researchers analyzing misinformation deserve to be defended — and the campaign to end their work threatens the right to free speech.

justsecurity.org

Fascinating anecdote about disinformation in the age of TikTok, and a reminder that a common tactic (to mislead) is to overlay subtitles onto short form video that don’t actually match the underlying audio. It can be even more effective when the original audio is ambiguous or in another language.

Dr. Genevieve Guenther (she/they)@doctorvive.bsky.social · last yr.

Ok a quick thread about disinformation and the 2024 election. I have an ANECDOTE. And it's a doozy... 1/n

Are you interested in accessing platform data as a vetted researcher under Article 40 of the DSA? Please take 5 minutes to complete this survey from the Irish DSC and share it with colleagues. www.cnam.ie/industry-and...

Vetted Researcher Data Access - Coimisiún na Meán

Article 40 of the Digital Services Act (DSA) makes provision for researchers to access data from Very Large Online Platforms (VLOPs) or Very Large Online Search Engines (VLOSEs) for the purposes of st...

cnam.ie

A reminder that scholars who are facing harassment can find resources at researchersupport.org and should feel free to reach out via the email address listed on the “About Us” page.

Researcher Support Consortium

researchersupport.org

Looks like we have a new VLOP under the DSA www.theverge.com/news/614445/...

WhatsApp is now a Very Large platform in the EU, and will face tougher regulation

Facebook and Instagram already have the same designation.

theverge.com

Some facts about Meta's factchecking programme from a factchecking org who participate in it. Very interesting perspective from @susandaly.bsky.social www.thejournal.ie/readme/the-j...

The truth about Meta’s broadside against fact-checkers

Journal Media Managing Editor Susan Daly says that platforms, not fact-checkers, are the ones with the power to control what you see.

thejournal.ie

Do you have a word you always spell wrong? Mine is commitments. I get spell checked always, despite leading on a report that used the word 88 times.

On Meta ending its fact-checking programme: Meta signed up to fact-checking commitments under the EU's Code of Practice on Disinformation, which is set to become a code of conduct under the DSA. Will it withdraw from these commitments? Or the CoP? Or will it operate differently in EU vs US?

Ridiculous this article does not recommend applying a SIM PIN as a crucial phone protection — phone theieves swap SIMs to a new phone and use them to access poorly 2FA-by-text protected accounts. Turn off notification content if your phone is locked, and set a SIM PIN. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

'Train phone snatcher stole £21,000 from my bank apps'

Niall fell victim to theft while on a train and police data shows a rise in reports of these crimes.

bbc.co.uk

"Shame needs to switch sides. I had no idea how much I needed that permission."

Jamie Klingler@jamieklingler.bsky.social · 2y ago

On Thursday the 2024 issue of @theneweuropean.bsky.social comes out and they have given me the platform to explain why Gisèle Pelicot is my hero and how she radically changed the conversation about shame and sexual assault It is my proudest writing. app.theneweuropean.co.uk/2024/10/26/v...

109 submissions to the public consultation on the draft del act on data access. Feels like Christmas to my nerdy self! Can't wait to go through them all in depth 🤓 So impressed with the level of detail and thought put into many submissions. These are valuable to everyone working on this topic.

European Commission - Have your say

European Commission - Have your say

ec.europa.eu

I've been too doomer-y lately, need to balance it out a bit. Did you know Brian Jacques was 47 when he wrote his first novel? 47. And he wrote 22 more beloved and acclaimed children's novels before he passed. There are admittedly some dreams you can age out of but creativity isn't one. Go for it